2025 âTake Flight Forumâ Showcased Major Growth, New Routes, Infrastructure Advancements and Regional Collaboration Among St. Louis Airports
2025 Take Flight Forum in St. Louis Showcases Major Growth and New Opportunities
St. Louis Aviation Soars: 2025 Forum Highlights Big Wins
The sky is officially the limit for the St. Louis region. On November 13, aviation leaders gathered for the 2025 Take Flight Forum to celebrate a year of incredible milestones. The mood was electric as directors from the region’s five busiest airports shared stories of record-breaking growth, major construction projects, and exciting new travel routes.
Hosted by the St. Louis Regional Freightway, the event showcased more than just individual success stories. It highlighted a powerful, unified team working together to boost the economy. Mary Lamie, who leads the Freightway, kicked things off by reminding everyone just how vital aviation is to our local success. She noted that the forum served as a “powerful reminder” of how airplanes and airports drive business and jobs right here at home.
Here is a look at the major breakthroughs and bright future ahead for St. Louis aviation.
St. Louis Lambert International: Connecting to the World
Rhonda Hamm-Niebruegge, Director of St. Louis Lambert International Airport, shared some of the most anticipated news of the decade. After more than ten years of effort, the airport has secured a non-stop route to London via British Airways, launching this April.
âThe London route is something we’ve been chasing for over a decade, so weâre really excited about that,â Hamm-Niebruegge beamed.
But the international growth doesn’t stop there. Lufthansa is expanding its service to Frankfurt, moving from three days a week to five. On the cargo side, business is booming. Cargo movement has doubled its market share in just five years, jumping from 2% to 4%.
Travelers will also see massive changes on the ground. The airport is pushing forward with a $3 billion consolidated terminal project. A $114 million airfield maintenance project is already underway, and design work for the new terminal is moving fast. The goal is to reach the 90% design stage by the end of 2026, giving airlines the green light to start major construction.
MidAmerica St. Louis: Breaking Records
For vacationers, MidAmerica St. Louis Airport remains a favorite choice. Director Darren James reported that the airport is smashing records. Passenger activity jumped 27.5% between January and October compared to the previous year.
James highlighted the airportâs success in serving the leisure market with low-cost flights through Allegiant. A new route to Gulf Shores has been a hit, and the airport is actively wooing more carriers.
Accessibility is about to get a major upgrade, too. The MetroLink extension connecting St. Louis Lambert directly to MidAmerica is on track to open by summer 2026. Additionally, terminal upgradesâincluding a new federal inspection stationâcould open the door for flights to tropical destinations like Mexico, the Caribbean, and the Dominican Republic.
On the defense side, the airport is playing a key role in national security. Boeingâs new facility for the MQ-25 Stingray (an unmanned refueling drone) is busy with testing, with first flights expected this December.
Spirit of St. Louis: Private Investment Takes Off
At the Spirit of St. Louis Airport, business aviation is thriving. Director John Bales announced a wave of improvements, including a complete rebuild of the main runway.
One of the most exciting developments is coming from private investors. Because hangar space is in such high demand across the region, a group of aviators decided to take matters into their own hands.
âThey said, you know what? We’re going to build our own,â Bales explained. âThey’re building 28 brand new hangars. So that’s pretty exciting.â
The airport is also buzzing with activity from the new Gateway Studios nearby, which is bringing music industry stars into town. Bales also celebrated the Red Tail Cadet Program, which recently graduated its first all-female class, proving that the region is serious about training the next generation of pilots.
St. Louis Airports: Training the Future
Activity at St. Louis Regional Airport has skyrocketed. Director Daniel Adams reported a stunning 40% increase in flights over the last year. The main driver? A resurgence in flight training.
To support this activity, the airport is investing $1 million to fix up taxiways in spring 2026. The FAA is even looking into funding a brand-new control tower.
Workforce development is a major theme here. West Star Aviation has expanded and launched its own academy, churning out classes of 25 skilled graduates ready to work.
Next summer, the airport will host the Air Race Classic, an all-female piloted race. Adams expects about 60 aircraft and 120 pilots to descend on the airport for a week of festivities before taking off on a 2,300-mile journey.
St. Louis Downtown Airport: Infrastructure for Aviation Growth
Sandra Shore, Director of St. Louis Downtown Airport, outlined essential projects that are laying the groundwork for the future. This includes a new terminal backed by $3.6 million in state funding and a new taxiway project worth up to $30 million.
These improvements are already attracting business. Shore noted that the airport hosts the second-largest Gulfstream footprint in the world. The company recently invested $30 million to expand its facility, adding 200 new jobs to the local economy.
âWeâre able to fill those jobs thanks to the regionâs dominance as an aerospace hub and the collaboration that exists here,â Shore said.
The Secret Weapon: Collaboration
While each airport has its own successes, the underlying theme of the forum was teamwork. It might seem like these airports are competitors, but the directors insisted that is not the case. They talk constantly, share staff, and support each other’s goals.
Mary Lamie summed it up perfectly: âBehind the scenes, there are hundreds of phone calls going between the directors… helping each other. It basically means that when we have staff at some of the smaller airports seeking advancement, they’re not leaving the area.â
The forum proved that St. Louis isn’t just a collection of airports; it is a unified aviation ecosystem. With billions in investments, new international routes, and a focus on training the workforce of tomorrow, the region is cleared for takeoff.
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Senior Editor, Digital Manager, Blogger, has been nominated for awards several times as Publisher and Author over the years. Has been with company for almost three years and is a current native St. Louisan.
